Quality Time Memories

"In family relationships, love is really spelled T.I.M.E."
~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I had SO MUCH FUN creating with my nephews visiting from Colorado last Friday!

Alcohol Ink Paintings by Nephews, Dillon & Cody Yates - First-Time Inkers!

We covered a lot of ground, did a bunch of different techniques (on tiles, Yupo and black vinyl),

had a lot of laughs and created some wonderful memories.

Cody and Dillon were naturals.

  I only had to explain things once to them.

They both quickly grasped all the techniques I shared.

Not bad for first timers!

 They are very pleased with their accomplishments and I am very proud of them!

Cody and I pose with the Sandarosa Sentry

Dillon and I with the Yard Guard

So grateful I was able to spend some real quality time with two super great guys. 

 Maybe someday they will find time from their mountain biking and snowboarding

and take up art. I know they both have a real aptitude for it!

"Spending time with your family and your real friends keeps you grounded."

And Don't Forget About -

 GIVEAWAY ON INSTAGRAM- OPEN to ALL MY FOLLOWERS THERE! 

 and ... the FUNdamentals of Alcohol Ink E-Course.

Summer 2018 Class Opens June 6th

Thanks So Much for Stopping By

X ♥  O

My Halloween Witch

"I'm feeling a little wicked
and I witch it could be Halloween all over again, he he he!"

The Good Witch - Alcohol Ink on Yupo

"We don't stop playing because we grow old,

we grow old because we stop playing."

~ George Bernard Shaw

X ♥  O

Happy Pumpkin Day!

"Courage is doing what you are afraid to do.

There can be no courage unless you are scared."

~ Eddie Rickenbacker

'Happy Haunting' alcohol Ink on Yupo

"When witches go riding, and black cats are seen,

the moon laughs and whispers, tonight is Halloween."

Have Fun!!

And be sure to

 Enter my Giveaway on Instagram

for a Chance to Win

a Spooky Tree Original!

Don't miss it, the drawing's tonight!! 

 

X ♥  O

 

The Trees Are Not Serious

“Take hold of your own life.
See that the whole existence is celebrating.
These trees are not serious, these birds are not serious.
The rivers and the oceans are wild,
and everywhere there is fun,
everywhere there is joy and delight.
Watch existence, listen to the existence 

and become part of it.”
― Osho

30 Paintings in Alcohol Ink by Sandy Sandy - Jan. 2017

As some of you who follow my work already know, I've been knee deep this month in creating #30paintingsin30days. I decided to revisit the theme of my very first 30 in 30 back in January of 2013 - Paintings Inspired by Quotes About Trees.

You can see each one of my 2017 alcohol ink paintings close-up on my website blog.

And some of my favorites have already sold, YAY! 

The 30 in30 is a great way to jump start the year! This is the 9th one and 

I highly recommend it if you're not afraid of a little pressure!

Now I'm looking forward to painting something other than trees!

Happy creating!

Thanks for stopping by. Hugs and Happiness!

X ♥  O

Yupo Demo Opportunity

ARTIST OPPORTUNITY - We are looking for someone who's somewhat accomplished with watercolor and/or alcohol ink on YUPO paper who lives in the Salt Lake City, UT area. If you are interested in a paid demo opportunity, at the NAMTA (National Art Materials Trade Show), please send a few samples of your work to me at: ssandyssan@gmail.com. Thanks.

Alcohol Ink on Yupo paper by Sandy Sandy

Day 25 - 30 Paintings In 30 Days - Only 5 days to go! 

See all images for the January 2017 Challenge here.

There are still two spots open for my Feb. 5th Alcohol Ink Studio Workshop.

See details here.

“We often miss opportunity because

it's dressed in overalls and looks like work”
― Thomas A. Edison

Thanks for stopping by. Hugs and Happiness!

X ♥  O

One Day Only - Black Friday Sale

“Who you are tomorrow begins with what you do today.”
 ~ Tim Fargo 

Get 1/3 Off - One Day Only - 11/25/16

Remove stress and have FUN!

Take advantage of the Pre-Launch BLACK FRIDAY SALE

on the January 2017 FUNdamentals of Alcohol Ink E-Course

Get 1/3 off the regular price of registration

ONE DAY ONLY!

Get more details HERE.

November 25th - ALL DAY to closing at midnight

Sign up to receive updates, prices and resources.

Registration Closes Tonight!

“Who you are tomorrow begins with what you do today.” ~ Tim Fargo      

If you don't enroll, how many of your questions will go unanswered?
How many times will you be frustrated or do something the hard way?

  Take the stress out of creating and have FUN in The FUNdamentals of Alcohol Ink E-Course. Registration Closes SOON for this highly anticipated E-Course!

Learn.Love.Create

“Love is a feeling completely bound up with color,

like thousands of rainbows superimposed

one on top of the other.”

~ Paulo Coelho

"There's a calm surrender to the rush of day
When the heat of a rolling world can be turned away
An enchanted moment, and it sees me through
It's enough for this restless warrior just to be with you

And can you feel the love tonight
It is where we are
It's enough for this wide eyed wanderer
That we got this far
And can you feel the love tonight
How it's laid to rest
It's enough to make kings and vagabonds
Believe the very best

There's a time for everyone if they only learn
That the twisting kaleidoscope moves us all in turn
There's a rhyme and reason to the wild outdoors
When the heart of this star crossed voyager beats in time with yours"

~Elton John

Come feel the love and join me on this maiden voyage here.

Finding Excuses


"The person who really wants to do something finds a way;

the other person finds an excuse."

4 x 10" Alcohol Ink Painting on Ceramic Tile

 In case you might be wondering if my new Learn • Love • Create E-Course
is a good fit for you …
IT IS IF …
• You want to find more inspiration and joy in the creation process.

• You want to loosen up and experience more spontaneity in your art.

• You want to learn new ideas and techniques, without feeling pressured
   to perform in front of others or produce a "keeper".

• You love to create, but need more structure, inspiration
and motivation to get started and to keep you going.

• You like the idea of learning at your own pace, in your own place.

This is just a sampling of what this course is all about!!
See for yourself. Click here to learn more!

The FUNdamentals of Alcohol Ink E-Course is open for enrollment!


The private part of the  Learn • Love • Create website is available to Members NOW!
Videos, tips, supply lists, starter kits, links and downloads are already online.
Hugs And Happy Creating From Your FUN Bringer,

FUNdamentals of Alcohol Ink Registration Open!

"Anyone who stops learning is old,
whether at twenty or eighty."
~ Henry Ford

Early Bird Registration is finally OPEN for my "First Born" Online Workshop -

'The FUNdamentals of Alcohol Ink'

 

See price, details and save 20% off registration now!

Learn • Love • Create

"The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies,

can continue growing as we continue to live."

~ Mortimer Adler

The Portals Of Heaven

“To live continually in thoughts of ill will, cynicism, suspicion, and envy, is to be confined in a self-made prison. But to think well of all, to be cheerful with all, to patiently learn to find the good in all;
 such unselfish thoughts are the very portals of heaven. 

  

To dwell day by day, in thoughts of peace toward every creature,

will bring abounding peace to their possessor.”

~ James Allen

I'm designing my new online course with beginners and accomplished inkers in mind. I'll be teaching classic design principles and demonstrating professional techniques for more advanced aficionados.

But I'll also be breaking lessons down into simple, easy to follow, baby steps for those just getting started with alcohol inks.

I'm developing simplified versions of more complicated lessons in the K.I.S.S. (KEEP IT SILLY SIMPLE) Section of ‪#‎LearnLoveCreate‬ . I will also have a basic K.I.S.S. Starter Kit and Material List available for those of you just testing out the inky waters.

So check out my very first online workshop "The FUNdamentals of Alcohol Ink!!
I'd love to answer your questions! See a sample lesson here!

X ♥  O

Have a great weekend and EnJOY!

Ten Rules For Students and Teachers

 "Be happy whenever you can manage it.

 Enjoy yourself. It's lighter than you think."

~ John Cage 

John Cage's Rules For Students and Teachers:

• 1. Find a place you trust, and then try trusting it for awhile.
• 2. General duties of a student--pull everything out of your teacher;
  pull everything out of your fellow students.
• 3. General duties of a teacher--pull everything out of your students.
• 4. Consider everything an experiment.
• 5. Be self-disciplined--this means finding someone wise or smart and choosing to follow them. To be disciplined is to follow in a good way. To be self-disciplined is to follow in a better way.
• 6. Nothing is a mistake. There's no win and no fail, there's only make.
• 7. The only rule is work. If you work it will lead to something. It's the people who do all of the work all of the time who eventually catch on to things.
• 8. Don't try to create and analyze at the same time. They're different processes.
• 9. Be happy whenever you can manage it. Enjoy yourself. It's lighter than you think.
• 10. Break rules. Even your own rules. Leave plenty of room for X quantities.
  

To Celebrate 1,000 Likes on Facebook, I'm Having a
Christmas In July Giveaway!

Six Original Alcohol Ink Paintings Are Up For Grabs!

Get Updates About the Online Alcohol Ink Workshop with Me this September!
Learn • Love • Create

X ♥  O

A Dream Is A Seed

“A dream is a seed. Vision plants it.
Imagination nurtures growth.
Opportunities create blooms.
Thoughts become things!”
~  Donna McGoff

“Of all the words of mice and men,

the saddest are, "It might have been.”

~ Kurt Vonnegut 

Ever wanted to try watercolor?

Want to try something exciting and new?

Well here's your chance ... 

Join us for the July 23rd, Summer Symphony Watercolor Workshop on Yupo Paper 

Only 2 spots left! NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!! Starter Kits Available.

Get Updates for the Online Alcohol Ink Workshop with Sandy this September!

Learn • Love • Create 

X ♥  O

 

The Way You See It

“No one else has access to the world you carry around within yourself;
you are its custodian and entrance. No one else can see the world the way you see it.
No one else can feel your life the way you feel it. Thus it is impossible to ever 

compare two people because each stands on such different ground. 

When you compare yourself to others, you are inviting envy

into your consciousness; it can be a dangerous and destructive guest.”

~ John O'Donohue
 

"Buttercup" ~ 4 x 10" alcohol ink on ceramic tile ~ Sold

Framed to 6 x 12" - 10 x 16" outside dimensions

The cat's out of the bag -

The Wait List For The September 2016 Launch Of The Very First
Online Learn.Love.Create Workshop is Now Available Here.

Develop your own voice without the fear of judgement or
preconceived expectations (from yourself or others).
You are spirit, pure and eternal, one of a kind, special and unique.
Lets uncover ways to make your art more powerful and distinctively you.

"The FUNdamentals of Alcohol Ink"
 GET UPDATES and STAY IN THE LOOP

Thanks for your friendship and feedback everyone!!
I am grateful for you all.
Happy creating!

X ♥  O

Evaluating Yupo Paper Vs. PI-180

"What works for one artist doesn't necessarily work for another - try anything and everything and go with what works for you."

~ Paul Dixon

Yupo paper Vs. PI-180 Comparison Test

A few months back, Rocheux International in Sommerset, NJ contacted me about trying out their synthetic paper. Chris wrote to me that his company supplies a similar product to Yupo and asked if I'd be interested in evaluating their product. I agreed to let them know how their paper compares.

Provided with some of their PI-180 grade, which was closest to the 74# white Yupo., I immediately noticed that it was not quite as heavy as the 74# and had a slicker surface.

Yesterday, after a little prodding from Chris, some tests were conducted. using alcohol inks - the same colors and process on each set, (Yupo on the left and PI-180 on the right). Each set was painted simultaneously and the sequence and timing were relatively the same for both.

Out of all the tests, I liked the Yupo the best for the ability to lift the pigment from the paper. The surface of the PI-180, although slicker, seemed to drag more as if working on a paper with more tooth. Notice how the middle paintings differ. Once set, the ink hardly moved with the splattering of alcohol on the PI-180. That being said, I really love the colors on the PI-180 in the bottom set.

Playing around a little with watercolor on them and yeilded similar results. The pigment on the PI-180 surface seemed to drag and not lift as easily as on the Yupo.

Bottom line - These experiments are only the tip of the iceberg. Many more would have to be done, using more techniques and mediums to come to more firm conclusions. The PI-180 may be a viable alternative when using some techniques. Price comparison, where it is made, if and when this paper will be available to the public is unknown to me. If you wish to find out more and possibly get some samples to test for yourself, you can contact Chris at: ykao@rocheux.com

"All life is an experiment.

The more experiments you make the better."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy Creating!!

X ♥  O

 

When The Student is Ready, The Teacher Will Appear

"Get over the idea that only children 

should spend their time in study. 

Be a student so long as you still 

have something to learn, and 

this will mean all your life."

~ Henry L. Doherty

"Hibiscus"
8 x 10" Matted Watercolor on Yupo paper ~ $85.
email: sandy@sandysandy.com to purchase

My first watercolor on Yupo paper instructional video is now live and available for rent or purchase. It is loaded with tips and techniques and I am sure anyone wanting to know more about working in this medium will find it very beneficial. You can see more information and watch the trailer here. Through my teaching, I want to inspire people to live a more visually aware, appreciative life. It is a proven fact that making art is linked to fewer cognitive problems in old age. Art is good for your health and your soul! Won't you take a look and leave me some feedback?

On another note, my sister is doing well and continues to keep her spirits up. Thanks for asking.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

X ♥  O